What is your favourite Anne Tyler

[polyhymnia]

I’m a fan of hers and have read lots (eg Accidental Tourist, Amateur Marriage, Ladder of Years, Spool of Blue Thread, Breathing Lessons, and Vinegar Girl)but not all.
Have just read Saint Maybe which I hadn’t come across before and thought I’d like to read more.
Which are people’s favourites?

Ooh The Accidental Tourist for me!

I think she’s a very underrated writer.

Dinner At The Homesick Restaurant is another wonderful one. I love her books.Saw her give a talk at the Oxford Lit Fest a few years ago and she was so beautiful and gracious.

The Clock Winder is my favourite, I just really like Elizabeth, Matthew, and Mrs Emerson.

After that I like Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant and I seriously considered using Ezra as a name for DS because of this book.

And Morgan's Passing is perhaps my third favourite, I liked Emily, although Morgan himself was not an overly likeable character. He would be hard work in real life.

I think she's a very good writer but because she's seen as gentle and domestic I don't think she gets the appreciation she should. There's actually quiet a lot going on her books and actually it's all big stuff when you really look at it.

HopeClearwater I've just noticed your name.

Not from an Anne Tyler book, but one of my all-time favourites. Hope is one of my favourite female characters in any book.

I've liked all of them. The one about the retired man with a goth daughter was quite amusing and Noah's compass.

She is very subtle but enjoyable

Saint Maybe is wonderful and has stayed with me for years after reading it.

Ive never read any of her books even though I love reading. Who is she similar too?

Hurrah, I've found my people . My favourite so far is Spool of Blue Thread but I pretty much love all the ones I've read. She writes the type of books you think about long after you finished reading them. Every time I unload the dishwasher I am reminded of Vinegar Girl and how they stored the crockery in there all the time!

Maggie O'Farrell is similar in the way she dissects family life but the UK version.

I have always particularly liked Ladder of Years. It's about a woman (whose family doesn't seem to take much notice of her importance to them) who just wanders away from a family holiday and travels to another town where she reinvents herself as someone with no ties.

But my favorite is Accidental Tourist. And not just because we have Corgis.

I think she's great her characters are so real, loved The Amateur Marriage, and Dinner at the Homesick Restaurant, she is particularly good at depicting a big messy family home

Thanks so much for your choices. Several there to read and re-read. Currently enjoying Back When we were Grownups so nice to have more to look forward to as I’m always sorry to finish her books.
I think her style is very distinctive- not really ‘like’ anyone else I can think of.

I have quite a few of her books but always go back to Saint Maybe. It was the first Anne Tyler book I read, I picked it up in a charity shop years ago & thought it was worth trying. I think Alice Munro is a little like her, and also sometimes Barbara Trapido.

The Patchwork Planet. Moving and funny.

Glad to hear that, Agedefying, as its next on my Kindle once I’ve finished When we were Grownups (not that I want it to finish!).
I’ve never tried Alice Munro - must do so. Have read and loved all Barbara Trapido but ages ago, before I discovered Anne Tyler. Definitely time to re-read her too.

Ladder of Years and Breathing Lessons do it for me. And the Amateur Marriage, which was the first of hers I read. I haven't read the recent ones but will go and get the Spool of |Blue Thread off the shelf now!

Digging to America is also a lovely book of hers, I can't believe I forgot to include it on my list of favourites.

I have also found my people! Anne Tyler is one of my favourite authors, and I really like Barbara Trapido as well. I can't think of a book of Anne's that I haven't loved. I particularly like the way she makes the mundane so interesting! Her characters really come alive on the page.

Saint Maybe and Dinner at the Accidental Restaurant are mine.
Can I recommend Olive Kitteridge by Elizabeth Strout and Standard Deviation by Katherine Heiny for anyone who like to try someone similar?

Yes to Digging to America. Can't believe I forgot that. As soon as someone mentions a title it all comes flooding back. She has such a brilliant way with plot twists especially in A Spool of Blue Thread.

Love all of her books, but Accidental Tourist and Breathing Lessons I return to quite often. I find myself thinking about passages during real life incidents with DH. So very tender and so very real.

I shall take the recommendations up thread - thank you all.

Will order some of hers I think based on this thread! May even have one kicking around somewhere! Loved Olive Kitteridge.

Tactum thanks.
I wasn't doing to remember the title of the one where the mother walked off from her selfish family.
So yes Ladder of Years one of my favourite ones.

I love A Patchwork Planet, it’s actually one of my all-time favourite books.